Toothpick holder



1930- c. M. BARTHOLOMEW 1,735,107

TOOTHPICK HOLDER Filed Feb. 14. 1929 Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITEDSTATES QASSIUS M. IBARTHOLOMEW, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO roornrrck HOLDERApplication filed February 14, 1929. Seria.1.No.' 339,994.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and pertains particularlyto a device designed for holding and serving toothpicks.

The primary object of this invention'is 5 to provide an improvedtoothpick holder clesigned especially for use upon tables, which willpresent picks for removal bya user but will keep the ends-of the samecovered previous to their removal from the holder, so

that all of the toothpicks, even the one in position to be removed willhave their ends shielded from contact with the fingers of any persontouching the dispenser, or from dust which might settle on thedispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toothpick holder andserver so designed that all of the picks therein will be fed smoothly tothe outlet of the dispenser without jamming and in which the pick pre- 0sented for removal may be easily and quickly extracted. a

j Another object of the invention is to provide a means for holding anadvertisement display card in position upon the front of the server insuch a manner that the full usefulness of the card will be obtainedwithout interfering with the action of theserver.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming a art of this specification, with the understanc ing,however, that the invention is not confined to any strictconformity withtheshowing of 1 135 the drawing but may be changedor modified so long assuch changes or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the or similar heavymaterial which will serve to maintain the server in upright positionagainst accidental upsetting, the top surface of which base may beappropriately finished as by enameling or similarprocess.

The base has secured thereto in anyap- .propriate mannerasuitablesupporting bar '2 which extends upwardly therefrom at an inclination asshown, in the present instance the bar being extended through anaperture 3 in the base with the lower end thereof extending at an angleand positioned in a recess 4 in the under face, a bolt 5 being extendedthrough the angled portion of the support and through the base to securethe support in position.

The toothpick server proper, comprises a receptacle indicated as a wholeby the numeral 6, this receptacle'being of elongated rectangularformation and having the back 7 secured to the forward face of'thesupporting bar ,2 longitudinally thereof, as shown. The lower end wall 8of the receptacle Which constitutes the bottom when the same is mounted,extends downwardlyat an obtuse angle withrespect; to the back andterminates at its forward'edge in the upwardly and outwardly inclinedplatform flange 9, the point of joinder between the platform 9 andthe'bottom 8 forming an angle 10in which one or more of the picks inthereceptacle position; 7 At its forward edge there is formed in thebottom 8 of the receptacle and through the flange 9, in'the centralportion thereof, the cut back recess 11 which per- IIlltSOf theinsertion of'aiflnger topostion beneath the picksjso that one thereof"may be'readily liftedfrom the angle 10 off on the platform.

Each side wall 12of the receptacle 6 at its forward edge is providedwith a forwardly projecting flange 13 upon the inner face of a which isformed a guide groove 14.

Removably positioned in the forward open side ofthe receptacle is aclosure body or door 15, the longitudinal edges of'which are slidablyreceived in the grooves 14, in the manner shown. The lower edge of thedoor 15 is provided with the upwardly and out- "wardly directed guardflange 16, whichjexwe r tends across the edge of the door, the centralportion of this flange and of the door being cut away, as indicated at17 to provide a finger opening similar to the opening 11 in the bottomof the receptacle.

Adjacent the top edge the door 15 has a depression formed thereinforming the inwardly projecting lug 18 which, when the door is in closedposition frictionally engages beneath the edge of the downwardly andforwardly extending flange 19 from across the front edge of the top wallof the receptacle 6, in the manner shown.

This lug 18 prevents accidental raising of the door and the downwardmovement of the door beyond a predetermined point is limited by theturned over top edge 20, which abuts the top of the receptacle, in themanner shown. With the turned over edge 20 of the door resting againstthe top of the receptacle 6, the guard flange 16 is held in such spacedrelation to the platform 9 that a toothpick may be readily drawn fromthe hollow of the platform. The guard flange 16 besides serving toprevent unnecessary removal of a number of picks at one time also actsas a cover for the picks in position to be. removed to protect them fromdust and dirt, and also to prevent the fingers of a person extracting apick from the holder from touching the ends of the other picks movingdown into pos tion for removal.

Secured across the face of the door 15 is a plate 21, the bottom edge ofwhich is provided with the forwardly projecting flange 22 while eachside edge is turned inwardly to form guide slots 23. This plate isdesigned to receive in the guide slots 23 the ends of an advert singcard which when in position may rest upon the flange 22.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that theserver of the character described the picks may be conveniently disposedabout a restaurant upon the tables thereof where they will be readilyobtainable by persons and at the same time they will be effectivelyshielded from dust, dirt and contam nation.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A toothpick servercomprising an elongated rectangular receptacle arranged in substantiallyupright position, said receptacle having a forward wall and a bottomwall arranged to form an acute angle therewith, means to permit of theremoval of said forward wall, a flange constituting a platform extendingupwardly and outwardly from and forming an angle with the forward edgeof said bottom wall, a guard flange extending upwardly and outwardlyfrom the lower edge of said forward wall, means for supporting theforward wall to maintain the flange in spaced relation, the lower edgeof said forward wall being directed at the point of the angle formedbetween the platform and the bottom wall, said forward wall and bottomwall having the lower edges thereof centrally recessed to facilitategrasping a pick, and means for securing the forward wall in position.

2. A server comprising an elongated rectangular receptacle designed tobe arranged in substantially upright position and having a forwardly anddownwardly inclined bottom wall and side walls terminating at theirforward edges in forwardly projecting flanges each having a guide groovepressed in and longitudinally of the inner face thereof, a door slidablyreceived between said flanges and in said grooves, means for limitingthe downward movement of the door, a platform flange formed transverselyof the forward edge of the receptacle bottom and projecting upwardly andforwardly therefrom to form a pick receiving angle along said edge, anda guard flange formed along the lower edge of said door and extendingupwardly and outwardly therefrom to position in spaced relation to theplatform flange, said bottom and door having the lower edges thereofcentrally recessed to permit of the insertion of the fingers.

3. A server comprising an elongated rectangular receptacle designed tobe arranged in substantially upright position and having a forwardly anddownwardly inclined bottom wall and side walls terminating at theirforward edges in forwardly projecting flanges each having a guide groovepressed in and longitudinally of the inner face thereof, a door slidablyreceived between said flanges and in said grooves, means for limitingthe downward movement of the door, a platform flange formed transverselyof the forward edge of the receptacle bottom and projecting upwardly andforwardly therefrom to form a pick receiving angle along said edge, aguard flange formed along the lower edge of said door and extendingupwardly and outwardly therefrom to position in spaced relation to theplatform flange, said bottom and door having the lower edges thereofcentrally recessed to permit of the insertion of the fingers, and meansfor frictionally retaining said door in position against accidentalopening movement.

4. A server comprising an elongated rectangular receptacle designed tobe arranged in substantially upright position and having a forwardly anddownwardly inclined bottom wall and side walls terminating at theirforward edges in forwardly projecting flanges each having a guide grooveformed longitudinally of the inner face thereof, a door slidablyreceived between said flanges and in said grooves, means for limitingthe downward movement of the door, a platform flange formed transverselyof the forward edge of the receptacle bottom and projecting upwardly andforwardly therefrom to form a pick receiving angle along said edge, aguard flange formed along the lower edge of said door and extendingupwardly and outwardly therefrom to position in spaced relation to theplatform flange, said bottom and door having the lower edges thereofcentrally recessed to permit of the insertion of the fingers, means forfrictionally retaining said door in position'against V tom and frontwalls and extending transversely thereacross in spaced relation, eachflange having a recess formed in the center thereof and extending intothe adjacent wall, that flange extending from the bottom wall joiningthe same at a point inwardly of the plane of the front wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CASSIUS M. BARTHOLOMEW.

